[aprssig] WARNING If you are using Streets&Trips 2006 orAutoroute 2006 READ THIS

Wed Jan 4 02:48:08 UTC 2006

Not exactly sure what you're trying to say here Stan.

Location Finder isn't a legend or a hoax, you can download it from MS and
install it yourself if you want to. From reading up about it on MS site, it
appears to do exactly what Stephen said it does. As far as it being included
with S&T 2006, I can't comment on that as I haven't purchased that package.

I didn't get any valid hits on "Location Finder" on any of the regular hoax
sites.

So, do you have some info about MS Location Finder that you would care to
share with the rest of us?

73.....Ron.....AC7TK.....(-9 Mobile, -2 Wx, -1 Work)
UI-View32 iGate in Eugene, OR

  -----Original Message-----
  From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org
[mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]On Behalf Of Stan - N0YXV
  Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 5:53 PM
  To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
  Subject: RE: [aprssig] WARNING If you are using Streets&Trips 2006
orAutoroute 2006 READ THIS

  How to Recognize a Legend

  Quickstudy by Russell Kay

  DEFINITION: Tips on how to recognize an urban legend when it finds its way
into your e-mail box.

  OCTOBER 14, 2002 (COMPUTERWORLD) - So you get a too-good-to-be-true story
in your e-mail and pass it on to a friend, who shoots back that it's an
urban legend, not true, didn't happen, and how could you be so stupid?
Here's a checklist of suspicious points to consider before believing or
passing on a story. Any single one of these doesn't mean much, but if
several are present, check it out.

  The text wasn't actually written by the person who sent it to you.

  The e-mail says to "forward this to everyone you know."

  It states, "This is not a hoax" or "This is not an urban legend."

  It makes frequent use of UPPERCASE LETTERS and multiple exclamation
points!!!!!!!

  The message seems geared more to persuade than to inform.

  It purports to convey very important information that you've never heard
before or seen elsewhere.

  There are logical inconsistencies, violations of common sense and
obviously false claims.

  There are no references to outside sources or links to Web sites with
corroborating information.

  It's a chain letter.

  There are subtle or not-so-subtle clues that the author is deliberately
pulling your leg.
  Finally, two important points: First, check to see if the message has been
debunked by one of the many Web sites that cover Internet hoaxes. Second, be
especially wary of health-related rumors, and never, ever act on one without
first verifying its accuracy with your doctor.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org
[mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]On Behalf Of Stephen H. Smith
    Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 3:24 PM
    To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
    Subject: [aprssig] WARNING If you are using Streets&Trips 2006 or
Autoroute 2006 READ THIS

    Many APRS users use Microsoft Streets & Trips (or it's Euro equivalent
AutoRoute), either standalone, with APRS applications like UIview, or as a
source of static maps for other APRS applications.   Before installing or
using the 2006 version of these programs, note the following.............

    ======  SPYWARE WARNING FOR STREETS 2006 !!! (=======

    Also applies to AutoRoute 2006  (the Euro version of Streets)

    Microsoft is using tactics virtually identical to spyware pushers in
Streets 2006.    When you first insert the CD to install the program, an
undisclosed undocumented program is stealth loaded onto your hard disk, even
before the first screen of the install dialog appears.

    This program,   Microsoft  Location Finder,   utilizes Internet
connections, either hardwired or WiFi, to attempt to determine your current
location and reports it back to Microsoft.  The application attempts to
triangulate your location by monitoring what WiFi hotspots your PC can
currently hear.  If there is no WiFi present in the PC, it attempts a whois
on the IP address your wired connection is currently using. The secret
placing of this invasive privacy-invading application on millions of PCs is
part of Microsoft's future plan for "Location Based Services" which means
popping up banner ads when MS detects that you are within a block or so of a
particular business.    The unwitting installation of this program places a
64 MEGABYTE ( !! ) password-protected database of the known locations of
hundreds of thousands of public WiFi hotspots in airports, cafes, Starbucks,
etc on your hard disk.   (You can see it in the directory \Program
Files\Microsoft Location Finder).       Further, you are recruited as an
unwitting accomplice in updating this database.  Every time your GPS and
WiFi equipped laptop passes within range of a new hotspot, it's coordinates
are reported back to MS via your current Internet connection.

    The first indication of the installation of this piece of unwanted
crapware is the appearance of an icon of a curved green arrow pointing into
a target in your Windows System Tray next to the clock.     The first time
you run Streets, it produces a message "We have detected a WiFi connection
on this  PC. Do you want us to determine your current location on the map?".
Whats wierd is that this message appears even when there are NO network
connections at all active on the machine.

    Even though the install is completely undisclosed, an item IS placed in
the Install/Remove programs applet in the Windows control panel.  The
uninstall routine is a COMPLETE SHAM!   It removes the systray icon, an .EXE
file,  and a couple of documents  from the Location Finder directory but
leaves 4 DLLs (program modules) and the 64MB database.

    Thinking perhaps it was just a sloppy uninstaller, I erased the
remaining files (especially the space-wasting database) by hand.
    Starting Streets afterwards generated several error messages that
"program files were damaged or missing" and requested that the install CD be
placed in the drive so that this thing could be re-installed!!!  In other
words, even after the supposed uninstall, Streets is calling components of
Location Finder.

    After many hours of experimentation, I discovered there is a way to kill
this obnoxious crapware.

            WARNING!  This requires editing the Windows Registry database.
            One errant keystroke here can totally trash your Windows system.
            Back up the registry first!

    1)  Before initially installing Streets & Trips 2006 (or the Euro
equivalent AutoRoute),  make sure you have NO network connections of any
kind live.  Unplug any ethernet cable and ensure that your WiFi transceiver
is turned off.

    2)  After the install, immediately go to the Windows Control Panel
"Add/Remove Programs" and "uninstall" Microsoft Location Finder.

    3)   Locate the directory "\Program Files\Microsoft Location Finder"
and delete it.

    4)   Click "Start, Run" and enter "regedit" (The Windows Registry
Editor).    In Regedit, pull down "Edit, Find" and search for "Microsoft
Location Finder".  Keep pressing F3 to find the next occurrence of this
phrase. Delete every item (registry "key") you find with this string in it.

    5)  Exit the Registry editor and reboot.  Streets should now be able to
startup without Location Finder and without complaining.

    Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
    EchoLink Node:      14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
    Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.com

    "APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
      http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/DigiPaths

    Updated APRS Symbol Chart
      http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/miscinfo/APRS_Symbol_Chart.pdf

    New/Updated "Rev G" APRS     http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/aprs
    Symbols Set for UI-View,
    UIpoint and APRSplus:

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